Sterilizing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An air purifying and sterilizing means comprising an ultraviolet source coupled with a forced circulation means such as a fan. The ultra-violet source and fan are adapted to be placed into a portion of a mattress or the like to thereby force feed thereinto a supply of air which has been subjected to the effects of the ultra-violet ray tube to thus sterilize the air and resultant sterilization of the mattress or the like in which the ray tube and fan assembly have been placed.

Appl. No.: 296,895

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,79,22 Bouchard Jan. 29, 1974 STERILIZING APPARATUS Prima Examiner-Archie R. Borchelt 76 l h B d, 34 kl l mentor gg g wggz g ggga Assistant ExaminerC. E. Church [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1972 [5 7] ABSTRACT An air purifying and sterilizing means comprising an ultra-violet source coupled with a forced circulation means such as a fan. The ultra-violet source and fan are adapted to be placed into a portion of a mattress or the like to thereby force feed thereinto a supply of air which has been subjected to the effects of the ultra-violet ray tube to thus sterilize the air and resultant sterilization of the mattress or the like in which the ray tube and fan assembly have been placed.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 2 91974 sum 2 or z STERILIZING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Discussing the inventive concept particularly as the same applies to mattresses, it is a well-known fact that the practice at present is for an innkeeper to simply order a change of linens on a bed in order to present the same to another user of the bed on his premises. Needless to say, this is the most economical way in pre paring a bed for the next user thereof.

In hospitals, nursing homes, and the like, the same condition prevails. Remove a patient or occupant from a bed, change the linens and the same is now ready for the next occupant. As can be appreciated, the mere change of linens on a bed, usually consisting of the replacement of a top and bottom sheet does little to remove from the bed and particularly the mattress therefor, any infectious bacteria which may have found its way into the mattress with resultant exposure of the next occupant of the bed to the said bacteria which could, in some instances, have adverse effects on the next occupant of the bed.

With modern age travel, people are forced, by reason of travel, to resort to sleeping accommodations at places not necessarily of their choice but will stay at lodging places which suit their itinerary. The same applies to a patient reporting to a hospital or a rest home. Here, the patient is assigned a room with sleeping quarters and usually must accept the same without actual knowledge that the bed and mattress is free of contaminants.

With the above in mind it is the primary object of the invention to provide a means whereby a mattress or the like may be easily and economically divested of any harmful bacteria which may have infiltrated into a mattress from a prior user thereof carrying such harmful bacteria.

Another object of the invention is to combine in a compact package a fan and an ultra-violet source which may be easily inserted into an existing mattress or placed therein when the mattress is being manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure for the fan and ultra-violet source which will restrict the outflow of air from within the enclosure to thus insure a proper exposure of the air within the enclosure to the effects of the ultra-violet ray emitting source.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle for the fan and ultra-violet ray emitting source which may be easily removed from within the receptacle for servicing or replacement of parts thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle for the fan and ultra-violet ray emitting source which can be permanently installed into one portion of a mattress for receiving the fan and ultra-violet ray emitting components whenever it is desirable to make use of the air purifying and sterilizing effects of the instant invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing mechanism in association with the components of the invention to thus enable one to set the timer for operation of the fan and ultra-violet ray emitting source for a given period of time and to thereafter shut down the unit automatically.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mattress having mounted therein a receptacle for the fan and ultraviolet ray emitting components shown removed therefrom.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the fan and ultraviolet ray emitting unit assembled within the receptacle shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. I of the drawings there is shown therein a mattress indicated by the reference numeral 10. The mattress 10 is of usual construction and is usually formed of fibrous material.

Formed in any convenient manner in one section of the mattress is an opening I] in which a receptacle 12 is fitted and can be permanently installed therein or if desired, may be installed for easy removal therefrom. A flange 13 extends around the open end of the receptacle 12 and engages with the wall of the mattress 10 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings so as to limit the inward travel of the receptacle within the mattress. The receptacle is preferably dome-shaped as at 14 and is provided with a plurality of openings 15 for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

The receptacle 12 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, etc. However, it is preferable that the same be constructed of a non-corrosive material so as to prolong the life thereof since a receptacle constructed of a corrosive material could be adversely affected by the moisture content in the surrounding atmosphere.

Mounted for easy removal from within the said receptacle 12 is a cage-like member 16 constructed of any suitable material, preferably plastic. The cage member 16 comprises an inner flange l7 and an outer flange 18. Both flanges 17 and 18 are circular in formation and are adapted to frictionally engage with the inner walls of the receptacle 12 as clearly shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Intermediate the inner and outer flanges l7 and 18 is a circular housing 19 which is provided at the outer end of the receptacle with a spider-type support 20. The support 20 is of conventional construction and has mounted thereon in any known manner an electric motor 21 and a fan 22 which is driven thereby when the motor is energized.

Mounted on the inner flange 17 in any known manner is a light socket 23 which receives an ultra-violet lamp 24. Suitable electrical leads 25 extend from a suitable source of power to both the motor 21 and the ultra-violet lamp 24. Interposed between the source of power and the lamp 24 and motor 21 is a timer mechanism 26. As can be appreciated the timer mechanism is employed so as to enable one to set the period of time of operation of the motor and fan as well as the ultraviolet lamp.

Both flanges l7 and 18 are frictionally retained within the inner walls of the receptacle 12 so as to permit for the removal of the cage-like member 16 and parts secured thereto whenever it is deemed necessary to replace or repair any of the parts mounted on the cage. A filter element 29 is mounted at the air inlet end of the receptacle.

From the above description of the invention it will be seen that l have provided a simple and compact means for easy installation into a mattress for effecting an economical manner of sterilizing and/or disinfecting the same.

The method of operation of the device will now be described.

In use, and with the aforesaid unit installed as described previously, a person changing the linens on a bed need only to actuate the timer switch 26 so as to set the same to operate for a designated period of time. whereupon, air from within the room will be drawn into the receptacle 12 by the fan 22 from the open end 28 thereof and caused to traverse a field surrounding the ultra-violet ray-emitting lamp 24 where the ozone created thereby sterilizes and disinfects the air passing therearound. The openings formed in the domeshaped portion 14 of the receptacle 12 will retard to some extent the exit of the air from within the receptacle 12 to thus insure that the air drawn thereinto has been properly exposed to the effects of the ultra-violet lamp. The air emanating from the exit openings 15 as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2 of the drawings will then disperse within the confines of the mattress and exterminate any bacteria or microorganisms which may have found its way into the mattress. Thus, the next occupant of a bed with a mattress equipped and treated with a device of the invention may be assured that the same is sterilized and free of any germ contaminants.

As an alternative, and in order to insure a better distribution of the treated air within the mattress, a plurality of perforated distributor conduits 27 may be connected to the dome-shaped section 14 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

The invention has been described in association with a mattress but it is contemplated that the same may be equally employed in the treatment of other articles,

such as, chair cushions, sleeping mats of any kind, or any other type of a body resting structure wherein it is desirous to rid the same of any microorganisms which may have infiltrated the same from a prior user thereof.

Obviously, the embodiment illustrated is not restrictive, and the invention is capable of various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts without departing from the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An air purifying and sterilizing means mounted within a receptacle which extends into a fibrous means for supporting a human body, said receptacle having an air inlet at one end and an air outlet at the opposite end thereof which extends into said fibrous means, a housing within said receptacle, said housing supporting thereon an ultra-violet ray emitting lamp, an air impeller means and motor means for said impeller means for directing purified air through said fibrous means for sterilizing said fibrous means, said housing being fric tionally mounted and retained within said receptacle so that said ray emitting lamp, air impeller and motor means therefor can be removed as one unit from within said receptacle, and timer means connected with said motor and said ray emitting lamp to regulate the time of operation of said sterilizing means.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said receptacle is dome-shaped and is provided with air exit openings therein.

3. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein distributor perforated conduits extend from the said receptacle.

4. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said fibrous structure is a mattress. 

1. An air purifying and sterilizing means mounted within a receptacle which extends into a fibrous means for supporting a human body, said receptacle having an air inlet at one end and an air outlet at the opposite end thereof which extends into said fibrous means, a housing within said receptacle, said housing supporting thereon an ultra-violet ray emitting lamp, an air impeller means and motor means for said impeller means for directing purified air through said fibrous means for sterilizing said fibrous means, said housing being frictionally mounted and retained within said receptacle so that said ray emitting lamp, air impeller and motor means therefor can be removed as one unit from within said receptacle, and timer means connected with said motor and said ray emitting lamp to regulate the time of operation of said sterilizing means.
 2. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said receptacle is dome-shaped and is provided with air exit openings therein.
 3. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein distributor perforated conduits extend from the said receptacle.
 4. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said fibrous structure is a mattress. 